Nearly 600 GW faculty and staff members have signed a petition affirming their support for students, faculty and staff from the seven Muslim-majority countries listed on President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

The Faculty Association gathered 596 signatures from faculty members in support of those on campus who are targeted by the executive order. The order, signed by Trump last week, bans Syrian refugees from entering the country indefinitely as well as any person from Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Iraq, including those with a valid U.S. visa, from entering the country for 90 days.

“We, the undersigned faculty and staff, stand with all GW students and colleagues regardless of nationality, religion, or immigration status,” the petition reads.

There are currently 73 GW students, faculty and alumni directly affected by the ban.

Katrin Schultheiss, the chair of the history department, said she felt it was important to formally state support for those on campus who are frightened or unsure of what a future in the U.S. holds for them.

Schultheiss added that Faculty Association leaders will be posting large format copies of the statement and all signatures around campus next week.  

This GW-specific petition comes in addition to a national academic petition with signatures from more than 14,800 university administrators, faculty and staff members, including 27 GW faculty members.